9
$\begingroup$

After having parked my car in a newly constructed airport parking garage, I came back to find something had dripped through a crack in the ceiling of the structure and left considerably thick film on my car. On a glass window surface, I tested soap and water, mineral spirits, two types of latex paint remover (i.e. goof off), and household chlorine bleach. None were effective. But plain white 5% vinegar dissolved the film if I let it soak or scrubbed on it with a cloth.

car window showing places where vinegar was effective at cleaning off a film

My question: is an acid of the strength of vinegar a risk to automotive "paint" (the top layer is probably "clear coat").

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ I'd try using a paper towel wet with vinegar and just stick it to the surface of the car. Then use a spay gun to give it a good squirt. I think the worse thing you can with such a coating is rub. I'd be worried about scratching the clear coat and/or paint. Take the paper towel off and rinse with water while you rub gently with your fingers. $\endgroup$
    – MaxW
    Jul 2, 2019 at 3:06
  • $\begingroup$ Vinegar is not a strong enough or corrosive enough substance to damage paint and you can minimise the risk by using a cloth or sponge wet with vinegar on the glass and not spraying the whole car or leaving it in the surface for an extended period. Also, it is a good agent for removing what is almost certainly a limescale-like layer (basically a carbonate that will react with acids). $\endgroup$
    – matt_black
    Aug 15, 2020 at 12:40

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
6
$\begingroup$

That is a valid question, because acid rain has been known to damage paints, particularly high-gloss, i.e. clear coat. Best would be to test the effect of vinegar on a hidden area, and double-check under bright light from different angles. Your idea to test on glass is good, because it shows how long a soak is needed.

  • If it appears unaffected, rinse afterwards with a weak solution of baking soda or ammonia, and then rinse again with plain water to remove any remaining acid.

  • If damage is slight, can car wax effect a good repair?

  • If vinegar does damage in the test spot, you might look at various car polishes or even cutting compounds, and then wax (or reapply a gloss coat, which may mean refinishing a large section of bodywork to get it to match).

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
5
$\begingroup$

Vinegar Test: No Visible Change After Two Hours

As advised above, I decided to test vinegar on an inconspicuous spot.

First I created a pattern of exposed paint using masking tape. The shape was just something random that I thought I could most easily recognize, even if just a slight difference in the car's finish:

masking tape on part of car's exterior paint

Then I placed vinegar-soaked cloth on the test area of the car:

Vinegar soaked cloth on auto paint

After two hours (which was longer than I expected the cleaning of the other parts of the car to take), I removed the cloth, rinsed the area, and finally just washed the are normally:

test area of car with soapy water

And finally took the car into various lighting conditions. There was no detectable difference in the finish that I could see:

clean and dry with no visible damage

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
0

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.